Electric Circuits

Honors Physics

Potential Difference =Voltage

In a battery, a series of chemical reactions occur in which electrons are transferred from one terminal to another. There is a potential difference (voltage) between these poles.

The electric potential difference is the difference in electric potential (V) between the final and the initial location when work is done upon a charge to change its potential energy.

Electric potential is the amount of potential energy per unit of charge.

A Basic CircuitAll electric circuits have three main parts

1. A source of energy 2. A closed path 3. A device which uses the energy

If ANY part of the circuit is open the device will not work!

Electricity can be symbolic of Fluids Circuits are very similar to water flowing through a pipe

A pump basically works on TWO IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES concerning its flow

• There is a PRESSURE DIFFERENCE where the flow begins and ends

• A certain AMOUNT of flow passes each SECOND.

A circuit basically works on TWO IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES

• There is a "POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE aka VOLTAGE" from where the charge begins to where it ends

• The AMOUNT of CHARGE that flows PER SECOND is called  CURRENT.

CurrentCurrent is defined as the rate at which charge

flows through a surface.

The current is in the same direction as the flow of positive charge

Note: The “I” standsfor intensity

There are 2 types of CurrentDC = Direct Current - current flows in one direction

Example: Battery

AC = Alternating Current- current reverses direction many times per second. This suggests that AC devices turn OFF andON. Example: Wall outlet

Ohm’s Law“The voltage (potential difference, emf) is directly

related to the current, when the resistance is constant”

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Voltage vs. Current

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ResistanceResistance (R) – is defined as the restriction of electron

flow. It is due to interactions that occur at the atomic scale.

For example, as electrons move through a conductor they are attracted to the protons on the nucleus of the conductor itself. This attraction doesn’t stop the electrons, just slow them down a bit and cause the system to waste energy.

The unit for resistance is the OHM, W

Electrical POWERPOWER is the rate at which work (energy) is done. Circuits are a

prime example of this as batteries only last for a certain amount of time AND we get charged an energy bill each month based on the amount of energy we used over the course of a month…aka POWER.

POWERIt is interesting to see how certain electrical

variables can be used to get POWER. Let’s take Voltage and Current for example.

Other useful power formulas

These formulas can also be used! They are simply derivations of the POWER formula with different versions of Ohm's law substituted in.

Ways to Wire CircuitsWhen wiring circuits, keep in mind that a resistor could be

ANYTHING ( bulb, toaster, ceramic material…etc).

There are 2 basic ways to wire a circuit. Series – One after anotherParallel – between a set of junctions and parallel to each other

Schematic SymbolsBefore you begin to understand circuits you need to be able to

draw what they look like using a set of standard symbols understood anywhere in the world

For the battery symbol, the LONG line is considered to be the POSITIVE terminal and the SHORT line , NEGATIVE.

The VOLTMETER and AMMETER are special devices you place IN or AROUND the circuit to measure the VOLTAGE and CURRENT.

The Voltmeter and AmmeterThe voltmeter and ammeter cannot be just placed anywhere in the circuit. They must be used according to their DEFINITION.

Since a voltmeter measures voltage or POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE it must be placed ACROSS the device you want to measure. That way you can measure the CHANGE on either side of the device.

Voltmeter is drawn ACROSS the resistor

Since the ammeter measures the current or FLOW it must be placed in such a way as the charges go THROUGH the device.

Current goes THROUGH the ammeter

Simple CircuitWhen you are drawing a

circuit it may be a wise thing to start by drawing the battery first, then follow along the loop (closed) starting with positive and drawing what you see.

Series CircuitIn in series circuit, the resistors

are wired one after another. Since they are all part of the SAME LOOP they each experience the SAME AMOUNT of current. In figure, however, you see that they all exist BETWEEN the terminals of the battery, meaning they SHARE the potential (voltage).

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As the current goes through the circuit, the charges must USE ENERGY to get through the resistor. So each individual resistor will get its own individual potential voltage). We call this VOLTAGE DROP.

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;Note: They may use the terms “effective” or “equivalent” to mean TOTAL!

Example A series circuit is shown to the left. a) What is the total resistance?

b) What is the total current?

c) What is the current across EACH resistor?  

d) What is the voltage drop across each resistor?( Apply Ohm's law to each resistor separately)

R(series) = 1 + 2 + 3 = 6W

DV=IR 12=I(6) I = 2A

They EACH get 2 amps!

V1W=(2)(1)= 2 V V3W=(2)(3)= 6V V2W=(2)(2)= 4V

Notice that the individual VOLTAGE DROPS add up to the TOTAL!!

Parallel CircuitIn a parallel circuit, we have

multiple loops. So the current splits up among the loops with the individual loop currents adding to the total current

It is important to understand that parallel circuits will all have some position where the current splits and comes back together. We call these JUNCTIONS.

The current going IN to a junction will always equal the current going OUT of a junction.

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This junction touches the POSITIVE terminal

This junction touches the NEGATIVE terminal

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To the left is an example of a parallel circuit. a) What is the total resistance?  

b) What is the total current?  

c) What is the voltage across EACH resistor?   d) What is the current drop across each resistor? (Apply Ohm's law to each resistor separately)

2.20 W

3.64 A

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1.6 A 1.14 A 0.90 A

Notice that the individual currents ADD to the total.

Compound (Complex) CircuitsMany times you will have series and parallel in the SAME circuit.

Solve this type of circuit from the inside out.

WHAT IS THE TOTAL RESISTANCE?

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Suppose the potential difference (voltage) is equal to 120V. What is the total current?

1.06 A

What is the VOLTAGE DROP across the 80W resistor?

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What is the VOLTAGE DROP across the 100W and 50W resistor?

35.2 V Each!

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What is the current across the 100W and 50W resistor?

0.352 A

0.704 A

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